LONG BEACH — It’s an annual tradition, Chip Ganassi said Friday. When the calendar flips to April, racing fans begin bombarding him with the same question: Will NASCAR star Kyle Larson run in the Indianapolis 500?

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points leader through the first six races of 2017 has made it clear that he wants to take his shot at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, and Ganassi said he’s open to the idea … in the future.

“All these social media want to blow me up and say, ‘let’s do it,'” Ganassi said with a laugh. “It takes a little planning, you know. Every time this gets talked about, it’s in April or May. Nobody ever wants to talk about it in June or July or August when it’s time to plan for the next year. … (But) he knows I’m open to it if he wants to sit down and make a plan and do it the right way.”

The right way means it definitely won’t happen this year, Ganassi said. Ganassi said there’s no way to enter Larson for next month’s showcase race in Indy, but he’d be hesitant anyway right now.

“Nobody wants to upset what’s going on already,” Ganassi said. “So obviously we are not talking about this May, but a lot can happen between this May and next May. I also think Kyle understands he can’t just get in and push the pedals. He’s starting to understand there’s a little more to it, and I think he’s starting to enjoy himself a little more in NASCAR.”

And it might not happen in the future, either. Ganassi said Larson wouldn’t necessarily have dibs if he decided to sport a fifth car at Indy.

“Do I think (Larson) would be a natural? Yes,” Ganassi said. “But I think there are other guys that it would be a natural (fit) for, too. We’re in an enviable position of when you have good cars and a good manufacturer, a lot of people want to drive your cars. And not that Kyle wouldn’t be at or near the top of the list, but you never know.”

Ayello writes for The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.